Happy being a "Pocket or Groove"player?

[WI Short Scaler]

Absolutely happy with being an "in the pocket or in the groove" player.

With the exception of musicians in the audience, which is probably a small percent, the audience doesn't care if you can lay down a Larry Graham level slap line, or a Geddy inspired riff. They are usually there to hear some music they either know or can relate to and to dance.

I'm self taught and while a lack of theory may have held me back in some areas I don't find that it decreases my joy of playing or what I bring to the band.

 

[CraigG]

I strive to be a listening player. Playing tastefully and appropriately for the moment is most important in my book and to those I work with. Sometimes that's in the pocket, other times it's knowing when to tastefully fill. Flashy playing is not necessarily the mark of a good player if they don't know how to play appropriately for the moment.

 

[MrLenny1]

Take some lessons on improve and go for it.

 

[Kieran Mulvaney]

Being a pocket player is essential, no ones gonna want to play with you if you’re not. Being able to blow a good solo just makes you a more well rounded player. But it’s non-essential.

 

[lfmn16]

Being a pocket player myself and understanding my position in every band that I have played in, how many members feel the same way or strive to be "soloist's" requesting a solo in every song? Sometimes I feel my lack of theory has stifled my advancement, but my ear training has allowed me to play almost anything I can sing or hear. I am at the end of my career, and nothing worst than sitting back in your recliner with regrets of things you could or should have done. Any comments?

That’s just a typical TB false dichotomy. There is a lot of ground between doing nothing but sitting in the pocket or asking for a solo on every tune.

 

[robd]

It's all about the groove...

 

[JimmyM]

Being a pocket player is essential, no ones gonna want to play with you if you’re not. Being able to blow a good solo just makes you a more well rounded player. But it’s non-essential.

It's not nonessential if someone turns to you and says "Take it." Happened to me many times. And the number one rule of being a musician is if they say "Take it," you have to take it.

 

[GIBrat51]

Definitely a pocket player. Intros to songs like the Animals' We Gotta Get Out Of This Place, are just about all the solo stuff I can handle - or want to. And if I can stand back by the drummer - preferably in the shadows, too - to do it? I'm a happy camper...

 

[madbass6]

Being a pocket player myself and understanding my position in every band that I have played in, how many members feel the same way or strive to be "soloist's" requesting a solo in every song? Sometimes I feel my lack of theory has stifled my advancement, but my ear training has allowed me to play almost anything I can sing or hear. I am at the end of my career, and nothing worst than sitting back in your recliner with regrets of things you could or should have done. Any comments?

Call me crazy but isn't that the bass players job ?
I guess I'm having a hard time understanding Why regrets for being good at what you do .

 

[pappabass]

Pocket player here. That is what a bass player is supposed to play. Especially if there is lead guitar player. An occasional run or riff is fine. Or playing a 6 or 7 string.

 

[Kieran Mulvaney]

It's not nonessential if someone turns to you and says "Take it." Happened to me many times. And the number one rule of being a musician is if they say "Take it," you have to take it.

Oh man, you’re so right! And it will happen...and then you gotta run with the ball.
Guess you gotta be ready!!

 

[bassbully]

I’m a pure pocket player and leave solos for guitars or a sax player. But a good pocket player can groove as well. I have always said I’m not that good and I am ok with that. I have been told that I am a good pocket bassist ...which is cool.
Being told I’m solid means way more to me than someone saying I’m good.

 

[socialleper]

I wish you had been my bass teacher, the only words of wisdom from him that I remember were: "Play what you have practiced, experimenting while you are on stage can lead to disaster".

Well, on stage isn't usually the time to start improvising new licks for the first time. Maybe give them a dry run during rehearsal.

 

[socialleper]

100%. And most of the best pocket players I know are pretty badass with the riffs and advanced concepts.

The problem I have with this term is it is a little vague, but implies being stuck in something. Maybe some people's pockets are bigger than others. For instance I wouldn't consider Geddy Lee, Steve Harris, Geezer Butler, Alex Webster, or Ryan Martinie "pocket players" because they drive the song, but they aren't solo players in my book either. Where as Ian Hill, Michael Anthony, and Nikki Six are what I would consider pocket players.

 

[Nick Danger]

I prefer to do whatever it takes for the song which is mostly staying in the pocket. The one exception the BL insists on is when we play Crossroads by Cream, he wants me to cut loose like JB.

 

[SMG]

I want to stay in the pocket, keep the groove going, and do my part to make the the front people sound even better.

 

[Real Soon]

One of the reasons I love Pino's playing is that he can bury his sound into the drums so deep you feel it more than hear it, but can toss in a lick two octaves up at just the right place and get back to grooving without missing a step.

Of course it depends on the style of music, but he's on fire through all of D'Angelo - Black Messiah, adding just enough "extra" to his groove lines to approach tasty perfection, least to my ears.

In a way, that's not unlike getting solo time...making sure fills and breaks are just undeniable.

 

[Ostie]

I’m in the pocket. Everybody remembers guitar solos, nobody remembers bass solos. Except for Jazz, of course.

 

[packhowitzer]

I don't care about playing solos- I just strive to make sure I'm always the loudest one.

 

[stringthrough]

I work on fills and artful "transitions" (from one chord to another, etc.), never soloing. On the few occasions I've been offered a solo I've either refused or took one under stress knowing there wasn't much of value I could contribute to the tune.